340 THE LABEADOE PENINSULA. CHAP. xx. 



until the priest arrived at the cross, when he entered a 

 little temporary chapel constructed of branches of trees, 

 and chanted a short service, all the congregation kneeling 

 on the wet grass. A hymn was then sung, and the pro- 

 cession returned to the chapel in the same order as before. 

 The cross is about fifteen feet high, and bears the 

 following inscription : 



JESUS NTBAN KAOTS 



(Jesus who died on the cross.) 



And in smaller characters below 



Kanaskamnest mak kakuskuertak 

 Oblat-Marie Immaculate. 



The cross was placed in a small enclosure, and the 

 path to it was ornamented with spruce trees stuck in the 

 ground and forming an avenue. The singing of the 

 women sounded very well in the open air, and the re- 

 sponses of the men were much less harsh than in a small 

 and crowded chapel. 



It was dusk before the procession had returned and re- 

 entered the chapel ; a few candles were lit, a hymn sung, 

 and the ceremony was closed with the customary priestly 

 blessing. The effect of this display upon the Indians was 

 very marked, and no one present, who was familiar with 

 Indian heathen customs, could fail to rejoice at the con- 

 trast it presented to a Medicine dance, or Scalp dance, or 

 a Dog feast, which were once common in the same camp- 

 ing ground before the Roman Catholic missionaries suc- 

 ceeded in winning the Montagnais from their earlier 

 customs and superstitions, and instilling into their minds 

 the germs of a better hope, however much it may be 



